Reminiscences of Liz Hollander

Liz Hollander

Liz Hollander was an extraordinary human being.

“She was a truly righteous person,” wrote one member of the J Street RI steering committee.  Others described Liz as “warm,” “insightful,” “feisty,” “generous” and “smart.”

As her obituary shows (see page 31), Liz had a lifelong commitment to social justice, equality and service; her professional career was long and distinguished. Her energy and skills enhanced the life of our community. A gentle but determined leader (“pleasingly dogged,” according to one colleague), Liz was able to talk to people across the political spectrum, always conveying interest and respect. She was open-minded, practical, diplomatic, humble and had excellent political instincts. 

Liz worked tirelessly for peace and democracy in Israel, first through Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (The Jewish Alliance for Justice & Peace), and later through J Street RI, where she served as co-chair for more than five years. She brought J Street’s voice to the Israel Task Force of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, earning the admiration and affection of its director and chair because she was “always a voice of reason and compassion.”

Liz was a leader of Community MusicWorks, whose mission it is to foster a cohesive urban community through music education and performance.

Sebastian Ruth, artistic director of CMW, summed it up. “Liz ‘got it,’ ” as she would say, and helped other people ‘get it’ too. At one point we were sitting with a potential supporter who didn’t seem to understand that CMW was about students and professional chamber musicians, and didn’t understand how the two groups were related. She said, “think of it as socially responsible chamber music. Right?!”

Sebastian Ruth had another wonderful story to tell. “One of the many people who thought of Liz as a central mentor was Michelle Obama. Liz served on her board when Michelle was running the Chicago Public Allies office. When the Obamas won the election, Liz served on a transition committee for service and helped write plans for the first administration. After Liz came to Providence, CMW won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the first lady in 2010. We were instructed in the protocols meetings before going to the White House that we were not to speak to the first lady, but just to shake her hand, say thank you, and accept the award. However, when shaking her hand I said that Liz Hollander sent her greetings, and that she was our board president. The first lady smiled a huge smile and said, “I should have known Liz was behind this! Send her my love!”

Liz’s devotion to Judaism was revealed in her ongoing efforts to study and to share her knowledge. She was a regular at the parashah classes at both Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El; she gave divrei Torah talks at Beth-El and her congregation in the Berkshires; she leyned – chanted Torah portions; she took great pleasure in her weekly Torah study in hevruta with a friend. 

It wasn’t all work and no play. Liz loved her second home in the Berkshires where she relaxed and grew beautiful flowers in the garden. She was known for the intricacy of the needlepoint she fashioned over the years. Of course, her life was enriched by the love of her husband, children and four grandchildren. 

The direct and candid way she processed her illness with her family and friends, knowing the end was near, was truly extraordinary. Liz battled cancer for more than two years and showed herself to be brave and not self-pitying.  This past Rosh Hashanah, when she knew she had run out of treatment options and would likely die in a few weeks, she told a sister congregant, “I feel OK today, and that’s the way I’ll feel until I don’t; and, by the way, I highly recommend Torah study with the new rabbi.”

Her death is a huge loss for us personally, our local Jewish community and the Rhode Island community at large.